Recording taximeter



' 1616;213" 1927' M. BLIKSTAD ET AL RECORDING TAXIMETER Filed June 11, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 616,213 1927' M. BLIKSTAD ET AL RECORDING TAXIMETER Filed June 11, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 E 1 l -M 45 4? @155- 24 1 616 213 1927' M. BLIKSTAD ET AL RECORDING TAXIMETER Filed June 11, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 an... m. 1,1921.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

IABTIIT BLIKSTAD, EIDSVOLD, AND THORLEIF MARTIN, OF HEGGFLI, mun OSLO NORWAY.

BEOORDIN G TAXIMETER.

Application filed June 11, 1925. Serial 1T0. 36,442.

' The present invention relates to a taximeter-of the kind which is adapted to deliver a printed record of the charges on a ticket which is delivered to the passenger. An object of the invention is toprovide a taximeter of this kind, which is adapted to perform its operations without necessitating any other operative movement by thedriver than the ordinary displacement of the flag lever. A further object of the invention is to provide the taximeterof the kind specified, which is so constructed so as to facilitate the insertion'of new'paper-ribbons from which the printed tickets are cut and providing for easier adjustment of the taximeter for different rates and different wheeldimensions, but illustrating the fare printing wheels which lie in front of that section line.

The rotatable shaft carrying the flag lever according to the present invention is provided with a double bevel gear, one part of which is in permanent engagement with a bevel gear on the vertical shaft which is provided'with cam discs for driving the printing and cutting mechanism for the paper tickets, whereas the other part of the double bevel gear is in permanent engagement with two horizontal shafts, one of which is adapted to set the counting mechanism and the type-wheels for different gearings, whereas the other one is adapted'by means of a tooth segment to effect the feeding movement of the paper-strip during part of the flag lever movement.

On the drawing is illustrated an embodiment of the taximeter according to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a front view of the taximeter with the covering disc removed.

Figs. 2 and 3 are side views of the taximcter seen from the left hand and the right hand side of Fig. 1 with the covering discs or casing removed.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the taximeter with the casing removed. 7

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V, of Fig. 4, seen from the left.

Fig. 6 is the same sect-ion seen from the right.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line VIL-VII on Fig. 4, seen in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section view taken on the line VIIIVIII on Fig. 7, seen from above.

and out of engagement with the notch in disc 5 by means of a connection link 7 and the locking mechanism 8. Accordingly the taximeter can not be operated until the lockingkmechanism has been opened by means of its ey.

Further shaft 2 carries a disc 9, provided with letters or numbers indicating the rate for which the taximeter is set (first, second, etc., free, payment etc).

The bevel gear 3 on one side is in engagement with the .bevel gear 10 mounted on a horizontal shaft 11. On one end of this horizontal shaft 11 is mounted a drum 12 with a number of cam grooves 13. 14 and 15 (Figs. 7 and 8) which can operate with the corresponding levers 16, 17, 18, respectively.

These levers by means of springs 19 (see Fig. 5) are maintained in engagement with drum 12 and are provided with projections 20 which are adapted to slide into the cam grooves 13, 14, 15. These cam grooves 13. 14, 15 are so located on the drum that during the rotation of the same, they enter successively into engagement-with the projection 20 on the corresponding lever, whereby this lever is rocked about its trunnion 21 so that the lower end of the lever is displaced in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 5). The pivoted arms 16, 17, 18 at their lower ends carry pinions 22. which when the levers are rocked in the direction indicated by the arrow, enter into engagement with the toothed drum 23 and with one of the gears 24, 25, 26 which are all mounted on shaft 27 and have different diameters.

It will be understood that levers 16, 17, 18 with pinions 22 are adapted tochange the gearing between shaft 27 and toothed drum 23. The cam grooves 13, 14, 15 in cylinder 12 are so located that lever 18 with its pinion 22 is brought into position when the flag lever has been turned to position 1, lever 17 when the flag lever is in position 2 and so on.

Shaft 27 is driven from shaft 28 by means of the'gearing 29, and shaft 28 is driven in the usual manner by means of a suitable transmission from the wheel (Fig. 7). In

order to enable the taximeter to be adapted for different wheel-diameters the shaft 28 In order to adapt the taximeter for the,

different wheel diameter it is therefore only necessary to remove casing 32 and change gears 30 and 31.

The shaft 33 of the counting mechanism is driven from drum 23 by means of a gear 33' fixed to shaft 33 and in mesh with one of the gears 34. Coaxially with the shaft 33 of the counting mechanism is mounted the visible counting device which is driven from the shaft 33 by means of a transmission mechanism 36 of the kind which is generally used in taximeters.

Coaxially with the counting mechanism is mounted the printing mechanism 37 which is constructed in the same manner as the counting device, having one typing wheel for indicating the number of cents and two typin wheels for indicating the number of dol ars.

The cent wheel in the printing mechanism 37 is mounted on a sleeve 38 provided with a toothwheel 39 which is connected by means of the countershaft 40 with the corresponding toothwheel 41 on the cent wheel in the counting device 35.

The bevel gear 4 on shaft 2 is in permanent engagement with the bevel gear 71 on the vertical shaft 42 (Fig. 6). The shaft 42 is provided with a cam disc 43 and another cam disc 44.

The cam 45 on disc 43 is adapted to engage one end of the pivoted two-armed lever 46 (Figs. 6 and 8), the second arm of which is in engagement with the projection 47 on a rod 48.

Rod 48 is connected at its upper and lower end with two bell crank levers 49, 50 which are pivoted on trunnions 51, 52 and carry the pressing disc 53 which is positioned adjacent the type wheels. Between pressure disc 53 and type wheels 37 is located a guide 54 for the paperstrip on which the charge is to be printed. Between the paperstrip and type wheels 37 there is mounted an ink ribbon 55 or the like, which passes between the ink rollers 56 and over guiding rollers 57, 58, 59 (Fig. 6).

The paperstrip 103 is mounted on a reel 60 (Figs. 2 and 6) which may be removed in order to insert a new paper ribbon. From reel 60 the paper ribbon passes through upper end 61 of the guide 54 between feeding rollers 62. The feeding rollers 62 are driven from the bevel gear 63 which engages bevel gear 3 (see Figs. 7 and 8). The shaft 100 of bevel gear 63 passes through the wall 101 and at its outer end carries a tooth segment 64 which when the flag arm is moved back to its payment position is brought into engagement with the tooth wheel 65 which serves todrive feeding rollers 62. The tooth segment is so adjusted that this movement takes place immediately after the printing operation on the lower part of the paperstri has taken place. The paper-feeding whee s 62 preferably have spaced circumferential ribs of rubber or the .like for engaging the paper strip 103. One wheel 62 may be provided with a knob 97 for operating the feed wheels when putting in a new roll.

The cutting mechanism which enters into operation after the printed part of the paperstrip has been pushed down, comprises a knife 66 which is mounted immediately below the lower end of guiding channel 61, 54. This knife is operated by means of rod 67 having a projection 68 which is in engagement with cam disc 44 on the lower end of shaft 42. The shaft 100 of bevel gear 63 carries a segmental gear 98, which operates through a gear train, to reset the fare-indieating and printing wheels, 35, 37, respec' tively, to zero during the latter part of themovement of the flag lever back to free" position. As shown in Fig. 6, the gear 72 of the printing and the indicating mechanism meshes with a gear 94 which in turn meshes with gear 96, this gear bein fixed to the gear 95 which engages with segmental gear 98.

As will be understood from the above specification the taximeter operates in the following manner:

When a trip with a passenger is started, the driver unlocks the taximeter by means of a key, fitting into lock 8, and turns the flag lever to the position 1, 2 or 3 in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 1, according to the charge to be used, whereby the number 1, 2 or 3 is made visible through the usual opening in the taximeter casing.

By this turning movement of the flag lever, shaft 11 is rotated by means of bevel gears 3 and 10 so that the levers 16, 17, 18, corresponding to the position of the flag lever engages with its projection 20 the corresponding cam groove in cylinder 12 bringing toothed drum 23 in engagement with one of the gears 24, 25 or 26. During the trip the counting mechanism is now driven in the usual manner by means of this transmission and the t%pe wheels 37 are driven simultaneously y means of counter shaft 40 from tooth wheel 41 on the cent wheel of the counting mechanism.

During waiting periods the counting mechanism and printing mechanism are driven from a clock mechanism (not shown) in the manner usual in taximeters.

When a trip is completed the flag lever is turned in the same direction back to its original position, whereby shaft 42 is rotated by means of bevel gears 4 and 71 in the paperstrip and ink ribbon 55 against the types of the printing mechanism by means of the two-armed lever 46 and the .bell crank lever-system 48, 49 and 50.

During the last part of this movement of the flag lever the tooth segment 64 engages tooth wheel 65 which serves to drive the feeding rollers 62 for the paper ribbon, pushing the portion of the latter on which printing has taken place down below guiding channel'54. By the last movement of the flag lever back to the original position the cutting mechanism 66 is operated by means of rod 67 and projection 68 in cooperation with cam disc 4% on shaft 42 so that the printed part of the paperstrip is cut oil and the next part of the strip being in position for the following trip.

The taximeter may, of course, include other elements which have no close or direct cooperation with the elements and combination of elements in which our invention is embodied. Certain of these auxiliary constructions are illustrated in the drawings but it is to be understood that the constructions hereinafter described form; no part of our invention.

Dating wheels may be provided in two sections, one for indicating the date and the other for printing the date upon the passengers receipt. The sets of wheels are connected for simultaneous movement by the shaft 81, and are set by hand from a set of four knobs, 82, which knobs operate the year, month, unit day, and ten day wheels, respectively.

The series of indicating wheels 83, 84 and 85, which appear at the right of the taximeter (Fig. 1) are totalizing indicators for total distance traveled, total distance traveled on empty or free and total of charges for all trips, respectively. The total distance wheels 83 are continuously driven'from the shaft 27 (Fig. 7). Wheels 84 are automatically thrown into operation by the flag shaft as the latter is moved into free position. This movement of the flag shaft rotates drum 12 and the latter cooperates with lever 86 to permit the wheel driving gear 87 to mesh with a gear train 88, 89, 90 which is driven from shaft 27. The total charge wheels are connected to the gear 41 on the wheel of fare-indicating device 35 through a train of gears (not shown).

The lever 91 (Fig. 1) carries a zero indication which overlies the cents wheelof the fare indicator 35 when the flag lever is in free position. When the flag is turned to set the taximeter for a tariff rate, the disc 9 rotates and forces the lever 9-1 to the right to expose the initial charge on the wheels 35.

The knob or'sliding rod 92 (Fig. 2) permits the operator to open the taxlmeter to insert a new roll of paper. An arm of lever 93 is pivoted upon the wall 101 and rests upon the roll 60 and the lever cooperates with the sliding rod 92 to prevent the inward movement of the rod until the roll (30 -is nearly exhausted.

The joint operation of rod 92 and locking link 7 is then required for the opening of the casing.-

Claims:

1. In a recording taxilneter of the type including a flag-lever shaft, the combination of type members, drive mechanism for said type members adapted to be held in continuous engagement with the fare-indicating mechanism of the taximeter, means for supporting a record sheet adjacent said type members, means for pressing said sheet towards said type members to secure a record thereon, said pressing means including a cam shaft having a gear for engagement with a gear on the flag-lever shaft, and means for moving said record sheet past said type members after a printing operation, said sheet moving means including a feed shaft having an interrupted gear for connection with said flag-lever shaft.

2. Printing mechanism for use with a taximeter of the type including a fiag-lever, said mechanism comprising type wheels adapted to be continuously connected to and synchronously driven by the fare-indicator of a taximeter, means for supporting a record sheet adjacent said type wheels, a platen, a pair of bell-crank levers connect d to said platen, a floating barconnecting said bellcrank levers, and means adapted to be driven by the flag-lever during the resetting thereelement for resettin the fare-indicating mechanism at the en of a trip, said ,printing mechanism comprising type wheels adapted to be connected to the fare-indicating wheels for synchronous rotation therewith, an ink ribbon and means for applying ink thereto, means for supporting a paper strip adjacent said type wheels, a presser plate for forcing said ribbon and strip towards said t pe wheels, means for feeding said strip a tereach printing operation, a

Ill)

knife for severing the printed portion from.

4. Printing mechanism for use with a taximeter of the type including a flag-lever shaft rotatable through 360 for successively placing the fare-indicating mechanism in operative position and in reset inoperative position, said printing mechanism comprismg a set of decimal type wheels independent of the fare-indicating mechanism of the *taximcter and which carry the indications printed thereon, means for severing the printed EIOI'ilOIl from said strip, and means adapted to connect said printing, feeding and severing means to the taximeter flaglever shaft for operation thereby during the resetting movement thereof.

Printing mechanism for use-with a taxinieter of the type including a flag-lever shaft adapted to be turned through a partial revolution to place the fare-indicating mechanism in operation and through the remainder of the revolution to reset the mechanism in inoperative position, said mechanism comprising a decimal system of type .wheels independent of the fare-indicating mechanism of'the taximeter, drive means cooperating with the cenis wheel of said system and adapted to be connected with the cents wheel of the fare-indicating mechanism, means for supporting an ink ribbon and a strip of paper adjacent said type wheels, a

presser plate for forcing said strip and ribbon against said type wheels, means for .feeding said strip past said type wheels,

means for severing a portion of said strip after it has passed the type wheels, and means adapted to be operated by said flaglever shaft for successively operating said presser plate, said feeding means and said severing means during the resetting move ment of said shaft.

6. Printing mechanism for use with a taxnneter of the type including a flag-lever engagement with and operation by said flaglever shaft.

7. Printing mechanism for use with a taximeter comprising a set of decimal type wheels arranged for movement about a horizontal axis, means above said type wheels for supporting a roll of paper, means for feeding a strip from said roll, a platen mounted for movement horizontally towards said type wheels, means for guiding said strip downwardly between said type wheels and platen, a knife for severing a portion of said strip after it passes below said type wheels, a vertically arranged shaft for perating said platen and said knife, drive means on said shaft for engagement with the flag-lever shaft of a taximeter, and drive means for said stri -feed means adapted to be driven by said ag-lever shaft after the movement of the platen.

8 Printing mechanism for use with a taxnneter of the type including a horizontally arranged flag-lever shaft, said printing mechanismincluding type wheels, means for supporting a roll of paper and for feeding a strip therefrom downwardly past said type wheels, a platen for pressing said strip against the wheels, and a knife for severing the printed portion, characterized by a drive shaft for the unit type wheel adapted to be engaged with and driven by the unit fare-indicating wheel, a "erticall disposed ,cam shaft for operating said p aten and knife, a horizontally disposed shaft for operating said strip-feed, and bevel gears on said cam shaft and said horizontally disposed shaft for engagement with similar gears on said horizontally arranged flag-lever shaft.

9. Printing mechanism for use with a taximeter of the type having a horizontally disposed flag-lever shaft, said printing mechanism comprising in combination with a compact assembly on horizontally disposed axes of type wheels, means for holding a roll of paper, feed rolls for moving a strip of paper downwardly past said rolls, and a platen for pressing said strip towards said type wheels, of a knife for severing a printed portion from said strip, a vertically disposed cam shaft for operating said platen and knife, a horizontally disposed shaft for intermittently operating said feed rolls,

and gears on said cam shaft and said horizontally disposed shaft for engagement with gears on said flag-lever shaft.

.In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention. we have'signedour names.

MARTIN BLIKSTAD. THO RLEIF MARTIN. 

